Tag Archive: substance abuse

Mental health disorders and substance abuse often go hand in hand. In many cases, it is not clear whether mental health causes substance abuse or vice versa. However, the two often occur together. This is particularly true in the case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). About 50-60% of people who have PTSD also suffer from substance abuse. The comorbidity of PTSD and substance abuse can make it very difficult for the affected person to recover fully.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder that is caused by a person undergoing a traumatic or life-threatening event. This can include anything from soldiers at war to sexual assault victims, to car accidents, to domestic violence victims. The onset of PTSD can occur in as little as a few months after the traumatic experience and can be life long.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

Avoidance of people or things that are a reminder of the traumatic event

Re-experiencing the event through flashbacks or nightmares

Arousal and reactivity, such as being “on edge” or an inability to sleep

Cognition and mood symptoms such as feelings of guilt and a negative self-image.

Post-traumatic stress disorder induces a high level of stress for the suffering individual. People often use substances to help deal with high-stress levels. Substances can increase pleasure and help people temporarily forget about their problems. However, while these substances may temporarily help people forget about their problems, as the substance wears off, it often causes worsened PTSD symptoms. PTSD may lead a person to substance abuse, but that substance abuse often leads a person to experience worsened PTSD. It is a vicious cycle that typically requires the help of a medical professional.

When PTSD and substance abuse together, it is important to identify the two disorders and treat them in an integrated manner. If substance abuse has progressed to dependence, detox is often the first step towards recovery. Visiting a psychologist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy is an excellent step towards learning to manage stress better. Exposure therapy is another manner in which patients can learn to face their traumas head-on. In some cases, medications may be used to help manage anxiety, depression, or allow for better sleep.

Going through PTSD or substance abuse problems on their own can be a difficult process to navigate. However, dealing with the two together, can feel overwhelming and in some cases, impossible. It is important to understand that while PTSD symptoms may lead to substance abuse in an attempt to cope, substance abuse only makes PTSD symptoms worse. Having a strong support system is key to overcoming the vicious cycle of PTSD and substance abuse. In addition, having a strong network of medical professionals is key to helping the affected person live a fulfilling, healthy, and happy life. Dealing with PTSD and substance abuse can feel overwhelming. But, it is important to remember that there is hope, and there is a possibility to overcome the grueling diagnoses.

There are many causes of chronic pain – injury, accident or illness. One of the biggest healthcare crisis of our times is the opioid abuse crisis. Opioids are typically prescribed for severe and/or chronic pain, to which the patient ultimately develops tolerance and becomes addicted. However, an integrated approach that includes pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, individual counseling, and group support, can be the right choice for patients suffering from chronic pain. Drug rehab with pain management includes this approach for the effective treatment of chronic pain.

According to a recently published study, patients who suffer from drug addiction and chronic pain tend to receive inadequate pain control compared to non-addicted patients. Doctors in rehab facilities may be hesitant to provide opioid pain medications given their predisposition to addiction. However, these patients deserve adequate relief is the pain is severe, the same way as any other patient. Drug rehabilitation for chronic pain is an approach that treats the patient’s substance abuse without compromising pain control. Chronic pain can debilitating — physically, emotionally and socially. The end results of under-treated pain can be isolation, depression, substance abuse or worse, suicide.

Chronic pain is actually underreported. Many patients suffer from it and assume it as a part of growing old. Adequate pain control can dramatically improve their quality of life and functionality.

It is true as well that prescription painkillers can be abused. These patients are vulnerable to getting addicted as they develop tolerance to them. This is why it is extremely important to provide them with pain in a controlled setting with careful monitoring. Patients undergoing drug rehab are in a structured program under careful supervision and it is important to provide them with adequate pain relief and monitor them for warning signs of abuse.

Having said that, giving alternatives to opioids for pain relief is advisable in patients with a past or current history of substance abuse. Some of the non-opioid options for pain relief, with varying degree of strength and efficacy, include buprenorphine, psychological counseling and behavioral modification, massage, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and herbal therapy, physical therapy, etc.

Psychotherapy can help identify negative behaviors and thought patterns that contribute to addiction, but it is not an actual pain relief method. Drug rehab with pain management focuses on not only substance abuse and pain control components but also other facets of health, such as nutrition, exercise, etc. As drug addicts tend to ignore these, addressing them is likely to help them regain physical and mental health. Pain should not be ignored. It should be addressed by the right clinicians and a personalized plan for pain relief should be sketched out keeping in view the unique history and health status of each patient. A comprehensive approach is likely to yield successful results in the recovery process of the patients and improve their overall quality of life.

Substance abuse is a serious mental issue. Addiction can be of various types and can get extremely challenging to get rid of. Let’s review some of the most useful tools that can be used to overcome addiction.

Socialize (with non-addicts)Interacting with people without a habit that you’re trying to beat is a very basic yet effective way to overcome it. It works by providing a perspective of how people behave in normal settings and shows that it is possible and easier to normalize than perceived in your head. It also provides motivation and encouragement. In ideal cases, the company provides support and anchorage when it seems that succumbing to your addiction is the only way to survive.

Read

Reading books is a very engaging experience. It keeps your mind from staying in the vicious circle of thinking about your “fix” and you may have a better chance of not succumbing to your craving. Books can serve as wonderful reminders to stay on course.

Being AccountableFind a friend (or work with your counselor) to whom you can honestly account your feelings, cravings and indeed, slip-ups. Having such a person to confess to and get feedback from helps us to stay the course and focus on facing the reality and not lie to ourselves as addiction tends to make people do.

Work on your weak spotsContemplate on what triggers your craving psychologically or if there are certain cues that you in the state of mind – an event, occurrence, place, environment, person, feeling, memory, etc. Then see if you create a situation where you are least confronted with those stimuli – especially places and people.

Distract YourselfYou can have a list of “distractions,” activities that can take her mind off of your addiction. It can be anything like crossword puzzles, novels, Sudoku, walking the dog, card games, movies, etc. Like reading, it helps to keep you engaged and from succumbing to your craving.

Exercise This is extremely helpful. It helps your mental health tremendously to perform light, regular exercises. It is obviously good for your physical health but it also gives you a sense of purpose, motivation, goals, engaging sessions and a brighter perspective. If done at a gym, it can lead to socializing with healthy people who are likely to motivate you to have a healthier lifestyle and approach to things. The release of endorphins is also thought to help you fight addiction and feel happiness.

Keep a Record Record your thoughts, your feelings. Jot down accounts of how you faced your craving, how you resisted or reacted to it -especially your small but important successes overcoming it. If you look back and read your journal entries about your down times, it will give you perspective as to how you’ve fought and how far you’ve come. It will provide an opportunity to build up on that and do even better.

All these tools can help you fight what seems to be an undefeatable enemy within. With some support and persistence, using these tools go a long way in giving you strength in this fight.

There are many addictions that can take control of your life. The two most prevalent are illicit drugs and alcohol. With the lifestyle we as American lead, we don’t stop to consider if the occasional glass of wine with dinner or the few beers on Sunday afternoon watching the game will create a destructive pattern that might lead to addiction. This lack of concern is probably because it is socially acceptable to drink, and we don’t even see the warning signs until it starts to spiral out of control and is too late.

The statistics on addiction among youth and teenagers are alarming. Around 50 percent of high school seniors have abused a drug of some kind, and by the 8th grade, approximately 15 percent of kids have tried marijuana. Also, 64 percent of teenagers report using prescription drugs obtained from their parents or family members.

Types of Addiction Therapy

Addiction therapy is a viable treatment option for those addicted to drugs or alcohol. It is essential for recovery. The two types of therapy are group therapy and individual counseling. While someone may want to do individual therapy, it isn’t always the right choice for everyone. Group therapy is usually preferred because an addict is more likely to relate with others going through there same situation. Usually, people who are seeking individual therapy are being treated for one or more other underlying disorders that require treatments besides the drug and alcohol addiction.

In therapy, whether group or individual, the addiction therapist will teach the addict how to recognize and avoid the triggers that create thoughts to use. This is done by helping the addict to replace the negative urges with healthier ones. Drug and alcohol abuse specialists show the person how to recognize the thoughts, situations, and moods that create the craving.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps many of those addicted, but there are very few therapists that are trained in this type of treatment. These days, with the scientific understanding of how drug and alcohol affects the brain, cognitive therapists are able to gain more insight on how to treat the drug or alcohol patients so they can lead a long, healthy, addiction-free life.

Regardless of the therapy you choose, for recovery to be successful, you need to decide if it is right fit for you. Does it fit your beliefs and values? Do you believe that it will help you in your pursuit of recovery from drug and alcohol? These are questions you need to consider.

Meet with your substance abuse professional or counselor to ask questions about their success rate and what were the most effective treatments that worked 5, 10, and 20 years down the road. This is you taking charge and responsibility for your addiction, and you are the hiring manager. You are investing in yourself like a company invests in an employee. Over the long haul, you want to make sure the time is worth it.

The best drug and alcohol rehab center in San Diego is Pacific Bay Recovery. The center offers customized and comprehensive treatments including medical detox, inpatient treatment and intensive outpatient treatment as well for long term success. Call us today.